Acts

Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth and ascends to heaven. The disciples pray together in the upper room, and Matthias is chosen to replace Judas, restoring the twelve apostles.

The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost with rushing wind and tongues of fire. Peter preaches powerfully, three thousand are saved and baptized. The early church is born, devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, sharing everything in common.

Peter and John heal a lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. The healed man leaps and praises God, drawing a crowd. Peter seizes the moment to preach about Jesus as the Messiah, calling the people to repentance for the refreshing times that come from the Lord.

Peter and John are arrested for preaching about Jesus. Peter, filled with the Spirit, boldly declares that salvation is found in no one else—there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. The believers pray for boldness, and the church shares possessions generously.

Ananias and Sapphira lie about their offering and fall dead. The apostles perform many signs and wonders. The Sanhedrin arrests them but an angel frees them. Gamaliel counsels caution, and the apostles rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ's name.

The church appoints seven deacons, including Stephen and Philip, to serve tables so the apostles can focus on prayer and the word. Stephen, full of grace and power, performs wonders, and false witnesses accuse him of blasphemy. His face shines like an angel's before the council.

Stephen delivers a powerful speech recounting Israel's history from Abraham to Solomon, showing the nation's pattern of rejecting God's messengers. He accuses the council of resisting the Holy Spirit. As they stone him, Stephen sees Jesus standing at God's right hand and prays for his killers' forgiveness, becoming the first Christian martyr.

Persecution scatters the believers, spreading the gospel. Philip preaches in Samaria with signs and wonders. Simon the sorcerer seeks to buy the Spirit's power. Philip is directed by an angel to an Ethiopian official reading Isaiah; Philip explains the gospel and baptizes him on the road.

Saul, breathing threats against Christians, encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus in a blinding light. He is converted, baptized, and begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. Ananias obeys God to minister to Saul. Peter raises Tabitha from the dead in Joppa.

Peter receives a vision of unclean animals and the command to not call anything impure that God has made clean. He is sent to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles, demonstrating that God shows no favoritism—the gospel is for all people.

Peter defends his ministry to Gentiles before the Jerusalem church, recounting his vision and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius' household. The church in Antioch is established, where believers are first called Christians. Barnabas and Saul teach together in Antioch.

Herod arrests and executes James, then imprisons Peter. The church prays earnestly, and an angel miraculously frees Peter from prison in the night. Peter goes to Mary's house where believers are praying. Herod is struck down by an angel for accepting divine praise.

The church in Antioch commissions Barnabas and Saul for their first missionary journey. They preach in Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch, where Paul delivers a major sermon about Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's story. Some believe, but jealous leaders oppose them, and they turn to the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas preach in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. In Lystra, Paul heals a lame man, and the crowd tries to worship them as gods. They refuse, pointing to the living God. Paul is stoned and left for dead but rises and continues. They appoint elders in every church and return to Antioch.

The Jerusalem Council debates whether Gentile believers must follow the Law of Moses. After testimony from Peter, Paul, and Barnabas, James proposes a compromise. The council writes a letter freeing Gentiles from circumcision. Paul and Barnabas separate over John Mark, doubling the missionary effort.

Paul begins his second missionary journey with Silas. Timothy joins them. The Spirit redirects them to Macedonia through a vision. In Philippi, Lydia is converted, and Paul and Silas are imprisoned for casting out a spirit. At midnight they worship, an earthquake frees them, and the jailer believes. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Paul preaches in Thessalonica and Berea, where the Bereans examine the Scriptures daily to verify his teaching. In Athens, Paul addresses the Areopagus, declaring the unknown God they worship is the Creator in whom we live and move and have our being, calling all people to repentance.

Paul arrives in Corinth, meets Priscilla and Aquila, and stays eighteen months planting the church. The Lord assures him in a vision not to be afraid. Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian, begins preaching and is further instructed by Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

In Ephesus, Paul encounters disciples who have not received the Holy Spirit. He teaches in the hall of Tyrannus for two years. Extraordinary miracles occur. The silversmiths riot because Paul's preaching threatens their idol-making business for Artemis, causing a city-wide uproar.

Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, raising Eutychus from the dead in Troas. He delivers a farewell address to the Ephesian elders, warning of false teachers and declaring he has not hesitated to proclaim the whole counsel of God. He says it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Paul travels to Jerusalem despite warnings from prophets about his arrest. He visits James and the elders, who report the growth of the Jewish church. Paul is seized in the temple by a mob who falsely accuse him of defiling it by bringing Gentiles inside.

Paul addresses the hostile Jerusalem crowd from the temple steps, sharing his testimony: his former persecution of Christians, his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road, and his commission to the Gentiles. The crowd erupts when he mentions Gentiles, and the Roman commander orders him examined.

Paul stands before the Sanhedrin and divides the Pharisees and Sadducees by invoking the resurrection. The Lord appears to Paul at night, encouraging him that he must testify in Rome. A conspiracy to kill Paul is uncovered, and he is transferred under heavy guard to Caesarea.

Paul defends himself before Governor Felix, accused of sedition and profaning the temple. He testifies about his faith in Jesus and the resurrection. Felix, frightened by Paul's teaching on righteousness and self-control, delays judgment and keeps Paul imprisoned for two years, hoping for a bribe.

Festus replaces Felix, and the Jewish leaders press charges against Paul. Paul appeals to Caesar, exercising his right as a Roman citizen. King Agrippa arrives, and Festus invites him to hear Paul's case, admitting he has no clear charge to send to the emperor.

Paul presents his most eloquent defense before King Agrippa, recounting his Pharisee background, his persecution of Christians, and the Damascus road encounter. He passionately proclaims the gospel to the king, who famously responds: Do you think in so short a time you can persuade me to become a Christian?

Paul sets sail for Rome as a prisoner. Despite his warning, the ship encounters a devastating storm. After fourteen days of peril, an angel assures Paul that all aboard will survive. The ship runs aground on Malta, and all 276 people reach shore safely, fulfilling God's promise.

Paul survives a viper bite on Malta, impressing the islanders. He arrives in Rome and, though under house arrest, freely preaches the kingdom of God and teaches about Jesus for two whole years. Acts ends with the gospel advancing unhindered in the heart of the empire.